Man fined $500 for West Papua protest at Indonesian consulate

A man is refusing to pay a $500 fine for trespassing at an Indonesian consulate to protest against its presence in West Papua, saying Australia has sold him out.

Tyrone Gibb, 42, climbed the fence at the Indonesian consulate in Melbourne, and up to the building's first-floor balcony on January 6. He waved a separatist "Morning Star" flag for the Indonesian province of West Papua, which is banned in Indonesia.

The "morning star" flag of West Papua separatists.
Credit:Amy Paton

Gibb pleaded guilty to trespassing on a protected property at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He was arrested and charged after the Indonesian government criticised Australian authorities for not doing so, almost a month after the protest was filmed and distributed on Facebook.

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Representing himself in court, he said that Indonesia was illegally occupying the province of West Papua. Gibb said if he held up the same flag in Indonesia, he would be sentenced to 15 years in prison, and insisted it was a silent protest.

"Australia sold me out," he said.

Indonesia-Australian relations were tense at the time of the protest, with Indonesia that week temporarily suspending military ties with Australia over teaching materials at a Perth army base that related to West Papua's bid for independence.

Gibb cried as he said he had photos and medical documents that showed people had been tortured and killed. He suggested he had friends in West Papua who were at risk of serious violence.

"The Australian government will refuse to acknowledge this...I don't know how else (to express myself about it but) to protest this."

Magistrate Tony Burns convicted and fined him $500 for the crime. He threatened to hold him in contempt of court for swearing throughout the hearing.

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Gibb apologised to the court but maintained he would not pay the fine, saying: "I don't need to pay shit, I'm not going to pay a f---ing cent".

Earlier, when he was told the maximum fine for the crime was $1800, Gibb offered in vain to pay $50 instead.